Conference terri::cars_uk

       I find it very difficult to believe that a LHD car fetched
       anything like as much as the RHD equivilent in the UK - even a
       sought after one like the 205. 

       From observation I'd say that the trade weren't interested at all
       in cars with the steering wheel on the 'wrong' side,  a car with
       "all the advantages of left hand drive" is usually guaranteed to
       meet a certain amount of derision at the auction halls. The dealers
       aren't usually out of touch with the what the private market
       wants. 

       Ian.

    
    
    I know some cars can be done - the ease of it often depends on wether
    the manufacturer makes both RHD and LHD versions of the same model. It 
    obviously makes sense to use as many commom parts as poss. I've no idea
    as to cost.
    
    Anyway, why bother changing? - we had a RHD car in Germany for two
    years, with very few problems - or why not sell the car where it is,
    and start again?

    
    	Have you tried to buy a Honda prelude in Ireland recently?
    
    	Sorry, i'm not being sarcastic Elaine but Irish car prices are
    	30 - 50% higher than the UK price and my friend is coming from
    	the states.

    
    Sorry, I didn't know there was such a large price difference! - 
    
    (How about buying in England/Scotland/Wales ? - I suppose that's also
    expensive or everyone would do it!  :-( ) Back to the original
    suggestion - keep it LHD. All the roads in Ireland a single track
    anyway  aren't they? :-) !!! (Sorry, I've been reading the 'carism'
    note, and all the sweeping generalisations, I thought I might as well
    extend it to roads!)
    
    Elaine

    Have you investigated the second-hand price difference for selling the
    LHD Honda in Ireland as opposed to a RHD car?  In England the LHD cars
    seem to go at quite a premium - maybe you'd get more for it than you
    think, allowing you to buy a RHD Honda afterall.
    
    Ruth.

    
    LHD cars go at a premium in the UK?
    
    Not from what I've seen and heard. Maybe you're been confused by
    the fact that some highly specialised machines (Lancia Integrale,
    BMW M3, Toyota GT4) are only sold here in LHD form. These cars
    are expensive, but look in Exchange & Marts section on LHD cars
    and compare the more run-of-the-mill models. The LHD models will
    be a large amount less!
    
    Mark

    I made my assumption about LHD cars going at a premium when friends of
    ours had to sell their LHD Peugeot 205 (can't remember the exact model but
    it wasn't a GTI) - they sold it for a great deal higher than they would have
    done if it had been RHD, but then this is just one example, so I bow 
    down to your superior knowledge, Mark.  
    

    
    Well, you've got first hand experience of it, I'm only judging by
    what I've seen in the papers and heard from other people, but I
    was certainly under the impression that LHD cars were NOT in demand
    in Britain.
    
    Mark

    Lhd selling prices....
    Going on two people whose cars I knew had left hand drive in the UK,
    one an immaculate Vw Beetle, the other an Audi Quattro, both were bought and
    sold for about three quarters of the price of equivalent Rhd cars. The
    only criticism, I seem to recall, was that it was extremely dangerous
    when overtaking, as if you were on your own in the car, you couldn't
    just poke your nose round the lorry/car  to look if it was clear, but
    you had to either rely on the passengers judgement, or poke 3/4 of the
    car out into the middle of the road, just to look~~ Dangerous nes pas!
    
    Carl.

    
    I don't think this is possible. I remember a few years ago hearing
    about a guy who had a sports car insured with a UK company and he
    was insured to drive anywhere in Europe. The only thing was that
    to get the insurance he had to lie about his address and say that
    his main place of residence was in the UK. A bit risky I'ld imagine.
    
    Re .0  Does anyone have any examples of cost for LHD to RHD conversion
    	   for any make of car, not necessarily the Honda?

    re .11
    
    	That was 630 punts or Irish pounds.

    
    Going back a few notes, the Celica GT4 is RHD - it was 'specialised'
    due to its being the first car in the UK sold with a cat. as standard.
    
    Bi||.

    re .11
    
    Presently, there's little or no difference!
    
    

    
    Re .15
    
    I bow to your greater knowledge, Bill.
    
    Mark

    Mark,
    
    The exchange rate means I can nip over to the U.K. and pick up a
    Marcos for a lot less than I could 6 months ago (even after duty,
    VAT).
    
    If only......

    
    Billy,
    
    Just say the word and I'll ask around to see who's selling a good
    one! :^)
    
    Mark
    
    

    
    	In case anyone is interested... I rang Honda Ireland today and
    	they said that the conversion would cost 3,500 - 4,000 punts
    	and that it may not even be posiible for an American spec. car.
    
    	So much for that idea.
    
    	Marty.

Marty,

After many "pleasant" evenings driving in Ireland, I came to the conclusion that
it made no difference *which* side the steering wheel was on anyway!  Why not
drive it as it is - nice and clean on unleaded fuel too?  Got a problem if the
exhaust ever gives out of course ......

The quote seems very high though.  You may want to consider a couple of other
options such as getting the work done in the UK, where you can convert an E-type
for less than half that quote for example.  And if your friend did a lot of the
work himself (him?) there would be significantly reduced labour charges.

Brian